Cops say officer hurt in Chester standoff

Friday

Mar 22, 2013 at 2:00 AM

TOWN OF CHESTER — A Chester man who injured a police officer held cops at bay during a six-hour standoff after neighbors said he was screaming in the middle of the street with a bandana over his face, police say.

James Nani

TOWN OF CHESTER — A Chester man who injured a police officer held cops at bay during a six-hour standoff after neighbors said he was screaming in the middle of the street with a bandana over his face, police say.

Chester police responded to Townsend Place, a cul-de-sac near Laroe Road, about 12:30 p.m. to reports of a disturbance. Michael Varrone, 49, resisted when an officer tried to arrest him and injured the officer, Chester police Chief Dan Doellinger said. Varrone then barricaded himself inside his home.

Neighbor Michelle Pfanzelter said she was stuck inside her home for most of the day during the standoff. She said Varrone lived alone. Pfanzelter was watching out a window when the Orange County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Group finally took down the front door of the home to arrest Varrone about 6 p.m.

"A mattress flew out the door," said Pfanzelter.

Pfanzelter said Varrone had made disturbances in the past, setting off fireworks at night and saying that the sun was a camera watching him.